One way to preserve a perishable product, or is it possible to freeze ricotta?
The creamy consistency and delicate pleasant taste of ricotta allow this cheese to be used in sweet dishes, snacks, sauces, etc.
If there is too much product available, the leftovers can be frozen, but this must be done according to the rules.
Is it possible and how to properly freeze ricotta cheese? We will tell you further.
Content
What kind of cheese is that?
The birthplace of ricotta is Italy, for which this type of cheese is one of the traditional ones and is widespread.
The fat content may vary, as it depends on the type of milk from which the whey used is obtained. If cow's milk was chosen, then the fat content is about 8%, if sheep's milk, then more - up to 24%.
There are several types of ricotta cheese:
- fresh (fresca);
- smoked from goat milk (affumicata);
- cooked in the oven (al forno), etc.
The whey that goes into ricotta is formed from milk with the addition of rennet. Various preparation methods can be used in production, which are based on heating the whey.
Tartaric or other acid can be used for coagulation.. Additionally, to improve the taste, cream can be added. The resulting mass is separated from the liquid and then packaged.
Ricotta is used in desserts and sweets typical of Northern Italian cuisine.
Is it possible to freeze?
Like other soft cheeses, ricotta cannot be stored for long after opening its sealed packaging. Even if all conditions are met, such a product cannot remain for more than 1-2 weeks. If this period needs to be extended, the question of the possibility of freezing arises.
Soft cheeses are more demanding on maintenance conditions than hard cheeses. And it is not advisable to freeze them. Exposure to negative temperatures does not leave a mark on the product - its consistency changes and whey separates.
The ricotta cheese itself becomes dry and crumbly, with a distinct graininess. The whey drains after thawing. Such a product, of course, cannot compete with a fresh one.
You can also freeze dishes that contain ricotta. These could be cheesecakes, muffins, bagels, etc. If storage rules are not followed, ricotta may spoil even before the expiration date indicated on the package.
Which is correct?
The quality of the product will largely depend on how correctly the freezing was carried out in the future. That's why compliance with technology should not be neglected.
Product preparation
The drier the initial cheese that will go into the freezer, the better. This will reduce the amount of ice that forms when the air temperature is below freezing.
You need to proceed as follows:
- Remove the cheese from the container.
- Squeeze out the water using paper towels.
- Stir the product with a spoon. The consistency should be uniform.
Tara
Ziploc bags or plastic food containers can be used to freeze ricotta. The packaging must be clean and dry. A secure fastener will prevent the cheese from coming into contact with other foods and air.
Package
The process of packaging ricotta for long-term storage at low temperatures is simple. The cheese should be placed in a prepared container (or bag), distributing evenly.
At the same time, it is important to immediately determine the portions by volume. Each container must contain as much product as required for one use.
In order to prevent air from entering and to prevent contact with other products, the ice pack can be wrapped in several layers of cling film.
In this form the cheese goes into the freezer.. Once enough time has passed for the product to freeze, remove it from the molds and pour the ice cubes into a Ziploc bag.
This will allow you to store the ricotta in the freezer compactly and free up the ice tray. Repeated freezing of ricotta is unacceptable.
How to defrost?
It is best to defrost ricotta on the refrigerator shelf.
The larger the portion size, the longer it will take to defrost. It may take from several hours to a day.
It is not advisable to speed up the process, since intense heating can lead to spoilage of the product - it will become overdried and crumbly, significantly losing taste and consistency.The fastest way to speed up defrosting is to place the frozen container in a container of cold water.
A small amount of liquid separated is normal.. You can drain it, or you can leave it. The product is mixed and then used in the preparation of various dishes.
How long can you store in the freezer?
If you follow all the rules for keeping ricotta in the freezer, the cheese can last up to six months. But the longer it is exposed to low temperatures, the more the quality of the cheese will decrease.
Therefore, it is recommended to use the cheese as quickly as possible. Recommended temperature: no higher than -18°C.
Conclusion
Freezing ricotta is one way to extend the shelf life of a perishable product. To ensure that the quality of the cheese is not greatly affected, all freezing rules must be followed.
And in order not to forget exactly when the ricotta was placed in the freezer, a date tag attached to the container with the product will come in handy.
